Tony Walsh – author & tours through Arabia
Oman News and other noteworthy issues about the country
Archbishop Francisco Montecillo Padilla – the Vatican’s Apostolic Nuncio (diplomat) to Yemen, Kuwait, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates and Qatar (strangely he doesn’t look after Oman) – and Dr. Ahmed Khamis Masood Al Bahri, director in Oman’s Ministry of Religious Endowments and Religious Affairs of Oman inaugurated St. Francis Xavier Church in Salalah, Oman.
The event was celebrated Continue reading “St. Francis Xavier Church – Salalah Oman”
Intercontinental Hotels (IHG) has purchased the award-winning Six Senses brand from private equity fund Pegasus Capital Advisors for USD 300 million. The sale includes the management of Six Senses 16 hotels and resorts, along with Spas and subsidiary groups Evason and Raison d’Etre. Following the acquisition, Six Senses is now expected to grow to 60 hotels within the next 10 years.
Six Senses currently manages Continue reading “Six Senses Hotel Group is brought by Intercontinental Hotels giving the group extra impact on Oman’s tourism business“
Tour of Oman 2019 starts on 16th February,
with 18 teams including Astana from Kazakhstan, whose Alexey Lutsenko won the race in 2018. This is the Continue reading “TOUR OF OMAN 2019 Cycle Race will have 18 UCI Teams “
The Oman budget is approved with expenditure of OMR (Omani Rials ) 12.9 billion (USD33.5billion)
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A Ferry Service for Oman from Qatar and Kuwait might be launching soon.
This seems to be being organized from Continue reading “FERRY SERVICE FOR OMAN FROM QATAR? as Qatar is trying to establish a Ferry Service“
The new JW Marriott Muscat is likely to open by mid-summer 2019.
This is a push back from a 2018 opening that was originally planned. Financed by Qatar National Bank the hotel is located within the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre. The Continue reading “JW Marriott Muscat opening 2019“
Duqm Refinery has achieved full finance on its path to becoming a driver in Oman’s economic diversification.
One of Oman’s economic objectives is to diversify its income, and the strategies include adding value to raw materials, leverage its geographical location and maximize local manpower skill sets.
The new “Duqm Refinery” at Ras Markaz Continue reading “Duqm Refinery”
Oman’s Government-owned Oman Oil and ORPIC will merge their ‘downstream businesses’, effectively from 2nd December 2018.
This merger is intended to be phase one to integrate their entire businesses. The CEO of the combined company will be Musab Abdullah al Mahruqi, he was previously the CEO of ORPIC from April 2010-Dec 2016 and is currently on the Board of Directors with PDO, Oman’s Oil Exploration business. Continue reading “Oman Oil and ORPIC will Merge”
The design for the Oman Pavilion “Oman Opportunities over time” for the forthcoming Dubai Expo 2020 has been revealed by Sayyid Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, Minister of Heritage and Culture.
The Pavillion design refers the Frankincense Tree, Continue reading ““Oman Opportunities over time” – Dubai Expo 2020 Pavilion”
Uber may not be in Oman, yet, – but the Middle-East’s own Careem Taxi is. Careem had started in Muscat in May 2017 but stopped at the request of Oman’s government. As Careem must have obtained a licence, at that time, to operate it was presumably stopped as a result of private sector concerns.
The new Careem service will use Marhaba Taxis which currently operate in Muscat (part of the Omani Ingenuity Technologies L.L.C/Suhail Bahwan Group), as the Careem fleet vehicles. Careem’s fares will start at OMR1.250; which Careem say is “in line with regular taxis” (I wonder if they have ever used the orange and white taxis which start at Rial Omani 0.100).
Careem intends to operate in all major towns in Oman (presumably also through Marhaba); I guess this will mean Suhar, Buraymi, Ibri, Nizwa and Salalah and Sur (the hometown of Suhail Bahwan).
To use Careem, download their app from iTunes and Google Play. The Careem apps interface may not be 100% informative or intuitive and unfortunately the same can be said about Marhaba.
Check here for other news about Taxis in Oman.
My Bradt Guide to Oman is available as an eBook from most online stores – click here to get it immediately. It will take you all the way down to the Yemen border – and details accommodation there; and if you prefer paperback, check out the book also on Amazon online stores and your main bookshop.
Sultan Qaboos Al Said has received in Bait Al Barakah Muscat, Oman, the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara, along with Israeli security & intelligence Ministers.
The visit comes in the same Continue reading “Sultan Qaboos receives Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu”
In the far south of Oman is the location of one of Britain’s Special Air Service’s (SAS) more publicly known battles ‘The Battle of Mirbat’. On 25th October 2018, Prince Harry unveiled a memorial in Nadi, western Fiji, to one of the key participants, the Fijian Sergeant Talaiasi Labalaba, of SAS.
The Popular Front for the Liberation of the Occupied Arabian Gulf (PFLOAG) were fighting against Continue reading “BATTLE OF MIRBAT a key event in the Dhofar war “
Forbes magazine has released its 2018 list of the ‘Most Influential Women’. Its good to see Oman’s most influential women are included in the list, including a new entrant.
Dominating this list, as their companies do in their fields within Oman, are Amal Continue reading “Oman’s most influential women 2018”
Muscat Festival 2019, Oman’s month-long entertainment and cultural event
Continue reading “MUSCAT FESTIVAL 2019 Oman cultural exhibition for residents and visitors alike “
The last month has seen a flurry of activity by Oman that seems to be focused on Iran and a meeting between Donald Trump and Hassan Rouhani.
This may have been set off by a meeting on March 13th James Mattis the USA Defense Secretary met with Sultan Qaboos in Muscat .
Following this meeting On March 16th ‘s Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Continue reading “Donald Trump and Hassan Rouhani, the Iranian President, might meet”
